Cotton Group Wants House Farm Bill Passed

The National Cotton Council is asking the House of Representatives to approve the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 and to do so without any amendments that could potentially damage farm policy. NCC Chair Ron Craft says the legislation contains critically important policies for cotton producers, as well as the entire U.S. cotton industry. He adds that even though budget constraints meant not all of the cotton industry’s priorities were included in the bill, the Ag Committee should be commended for the work it did. “Cotton producers rely on the certainty and predictability of farm law to obtain the financing necessary for capital investments and annual crop production,” he says. “Without strong commodity and crop insurance policies as a foundation for U.S. agriculture, lenders would be hesitant to provide financing to an industry that’s operating at the mercy of weather extremes and volatile global markets.” Craft says the current trade tensions further emphasize the need for having a strong and predictable farm policy. The nation’s 20,000 cotton farms and other cotton businesses generate more than $21 billion in annual revenue.